Perez Hilton has entered a residential treatment program following weeks of hospitalization-and his family is shutting down some of the wilder stories circulating about his condition.
The celebrity blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, was hospitalized on August 4 after a disturbing TikTok livestream in which he appeared to harm himself. A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office confirmed at the time that Hilton was receiving medical attention.
Now, nearly five weeks later, his family says he has taken an important step forward by entering a residential facility where he can concentrate fully on his mental health and recovery.
"This was an important next step, but there's still a long road ahead," the family said in a statement posted on Hilton's website. He is expected to remain in treatment for several more weeks-and potentially longer-depending on the recommendations of his medical team.
Hilton still does not have access to his phone or laptop, while his contact with relatives and friends remains limited. The restrictions are reportedly intended to protect his recovery and allow him to focus on getting well without the pressures of social media or public attention.
But while Hilton remains offline, the rumor mill has been working overtime.
His family directly denied sensational reports claiming that he had lost 10 years of his memory, believed it was still 2016, or was confused about his location. They insisted that Hilton is lucid and communicating clearly with his loved ones.
They also dismissed claims that he was covered in gauze, had stitches, or had made the rather unexpected request for Katy Perry to visit him.
"And no, he has not asked anyone to bring Katy Perry to see him or mentioned her," the family said, adding that no authorized relative or representative had supplied those claims to the media.
The update also addressed concern for Hilton's three children. His family confirmed that the children remain together and are being cared for full-time by their grandmother while their father receives treatment.
According to the statement, the family is working to preserve as much routine, security, and normalcy as possible for them during what it described as an "unexpected chapter."
Although Perez Hilton built his name by exposing celebrity secrets and serving up some of the internet's sharpest gossip, his family is now asking the public to remember the human being behind the famous persona.
"Mario is a father of three, a son, a brother, and a friend," the statement said. His relatives revealed that he had reached such a desperate point that he believed those closest to him might be better off without him.
They also acknowledged Hilton's controversial history. During his rise to fame, the blogger became notorious for cruel nicknames, invasive coverage, and vicious commentary about celebrities. In more recent years, however, he has publicly apologized for parts of his past and attempted to change his approach.
"The internet has a way of preserving old versions of people, even when the person behind them has changed," his family observed. They conceded that no one is required to forget his previous conduct or accept his apologies, but argued that celebrating another person's suicide attempt crosses a moral line.
There is an important reminder here for Christians as well. Whatever someone's reputation or past mistakes, suffering should never become entertainment. Grace does not require pretending that previous wrongdoing never happened, but it does call believers to resist cruelty, pray for recovery, and remember the dignity of every person.
For now, Hilton's family says his only job is to get healthy. Despite the seriousness of the situation, they stressed that progress has been made.
"Perez is alive, he's getting help, and he's surrounded by people who want to see him healthy and happy again," the statement concluded.
